Automatic phonograph



June 29 1926. 1,590,654

o. SMITH AUTOMATIC PHQNOGRAPH Filed May l0l 1924 a sheets-sheet' 5 June 29 1926. f

` o. SMITH AUTOMATIC PHoNoGRAPH Fild May 1o, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 29,1926. 1,590,654

O. SMITH AUT OMATI C PHO NOGRAPH Filed May 10, 1924- 8 sheetsheet' 5 June 2 1926.y

O. SMITH AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 8 Sheets-Sh' 6 Filed May 10. 1924 v GuiM/Wag June 29 1926.

- 1,590,654 o. sMm-l AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May l0. 1924 s sheets-sheet' v June 29 1926.

o. SMITH AUTOMATIC PHoNoGRAPH Filed May 1o, 1924 Patented June 29, 1926.

` UNITED STATES OBERLINgSMITH, F BRIDGETON, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH.

Application led May 10, 1924. Serial No.` 712,317.

The main object of my invention is to reduce to ythe minimum the manual labor or eflort required in the operation of phonographs and other instruments of entertainment presenting similar conditions in respect of applying and removing the operating member of the organization. Another object is to enable the application of the sound record or other operating member to and its removal from operatingr position by the manipulation ot a controlling device, such as a keyboard, situated more or less remote from thc instrument. A subsidiary but important object is toaccomplish or achieve the other l' objects mentioned by mechanism that will be as simple as possible, having in view the.

operati ms to be performed;

lhe practical problems to be solved in the production ot' an automatic player instrument` such as a phonograph-using the disk records, are a small bulk or sizeof the instrument to suit the requirements of the room sizes of dwelling houses with capacity for a large number' `ot' records, simplification ot working parts to make original cost as low as possible and reduction to the utmost ot' liability of derangement ofy action under the usual or ordinary conditions of use, and absence of obJectionable nolses from the working ofthe mechanism.

My invention consists in whateveris de-` scribed by or is included within the meaning or scope of the appended claims.

I have embodied my invention in a phono.- graph of the disk record type, and the drawings will be found illustrating such an embodiment, but it is to be understood, unless the claims, by proper constructiomrestrict to or define such an embodiment, that the scope of my invention is not to be limited to the phonograph embodiment. Briefly described, the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings comprises a phonograph using the disk-type record, and as usual, consisting of a turntable and a swinging tone-arm, a reciprocating reservoir or magazine in which a large number of records are placed, compactly in a straight line,

power driven means for taking a record from the magazine, transporting it to and plac- .ing itupon the turntable and then removing it from the turntable and restoring it to its proper place in the magazine, and a key-` board comprising a collection of keys by .whose manipulation the selectlon and removal of a desired recordin the magazine is accomplished, the keyboard connection 'with the mechanism controlled thereby being electrical and thus the keyboard being possible of location at any desired distance from the phonograph.

In the annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 isa side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, the enclosing casing or housing being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a. vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig.'3 is a top plan View of the recordcarrying car;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in plan of a portion of said car showing adjacent partitions spread ready to litt a record to the phonograph turntable; l

Figs. 5, G and 7 are detail views of the phonograph control devices; t

Figs. 8 to 10 are detail views of the disk gripper mechanism;

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are detail 'views' ofthe car motor clutch;

Fig. 14 is a detail View of the switch'arrangement for stopping the car;

Fig. 15 is adiagrammatic view illustrating a circuit arrangement suitable for the apparatus illustrated inl the preceding figures; v

16 is a side elevation of another embodiment of my invention the illustration being similar to Fig. 1;

Fig. 17 is a Vertical section on the line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a top plan View of the apparatus shown in Figs. 16'and 17;

Fig. 18a is a detail side view of the cams;

Fig. 19 is a detail View in'section of the upper part of the disk lifter in its lowered position;

Fig. 20 is a like view showing the parts after the disk'has been placed on the turntable;

Fig. 21.is a detail View partly in section ofl the upper end of one ofthe llifter arms;

Fig. 22 is a detail view ofthe joint that flexibly connects the sections of the lifter l screw Figi 23 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit arrangement that may be used with the apparatus shown in Figs. 16 to 22;

Fig. 24 is a detail View in vertical section Figs. 26 to 28v are detail views of the clutch device of the machine of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in detail, and in particular to what is shown in Figs. 1 to 15, a skeleton frame-work 10, is shown which may be of wood and-will preferably be enclosed by a finished cabinet of wood, 0r other material, and within the upper part of said frame is a horizontallyf traveling finished playing returns 4the same to its proper place in the car, as hereinafter more fully described.

The record transferring device which collectively for brevity I 'term the lifter comprises a pincer-like gripper mounted upon the upper end of a vertically sliding car# rier, 15, which may be a flat open frame having a rack, 16, in mesh with a gear, 17, that also meshes with a parallel vstationary rack, 18, which gear is supported by a. link, 19, pivoted to the end of a lever, 20, by Whose oscillation the gear is moved vertically over the stationary rack and thereby movement imparted by its rotationto the lifting carrier rack, the latter being thus given a movement that is multiplied over that which it would ,receive if the lever should be directly connected with the lifter 20,'has a slot, 21,

carrying rack. The lever,

22, on ashaft,

which is engaged by a crank,

. 25, to which is fixed a worm wheel, 26', in

mesh -with and receiving motion from a worm, 27 on the armature shaft of an elec' tric motor, 28, whose operation is automatically controlled as hereinafter explained to cause the up and down movement of the lifter at Ithe appointed time.

The lifter gripper (e Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9 and 10) comprises a pair of jaws, 29, (see Fig. 8) normally closed by a coiled spring, 290, pivoted to each other and pivoted to the upper end of the lifter frame, l5, by a pin, 150, to one of which jaws is attached a pin,

30, which as the gripper ascends engages aV` j relatively stationary hook,

31, with the result that-the gripper is swung from th-e vertical position in which it is held by a spring, 151, to a horizontal position to deposit the record on the turntable of the phonograph and release it. One jaw is moved upward to free it from the record on the turntable by contacting with a post, 291, fixed on the phonograph, 14, and the other jaw is carried slightly below the record. lVhen the playing of the record has finished and the gripper starts to descend the first eii'ect is to free the pin, 30, from the hook, 31, and allow its jaws to clamp the edge of the disk Aon the turntable and then the gripper swings upward with the gripped record and next descends to lower the record to its place on the car, whereupon the jaws release the record by an opening movement produced by contact of the tails of the jaws with the sides of a V-shaped opening, 32, (see Fig. l) in a relatively stationary guide supported by the frame in the path of the descending aws.

The disk records are supported inthe car in a vertical position by resting upon two parallel rods, 34, (see Figs. 1 to 4) which extend horizontally from end to end of the car, each record being supported in a vertical position between two vertical partitions, which for lightness sake are each formed of upper and lower parallel strips, 35, through the lower ones of which the disk supporting rods, 34, pass and through the upper ones of which parallel horizontal rods, 37, pass all said rods heilig suitably attached at their ends to the ends of the car. Adj acent .partitions have between them spacing washers, 38, on the rods which provide just enough space to receive a record disk without a close fit, which spaces however are insufficient `to receive the lifter gripper'. The partitions are therefore sldably mounted upon the various rods so that any two adjacent partitions may be spread apart the necessary'distance to permit the entrance between them of the lifter and to allow that action sufficient space is left between the end partition and the end of the car and upon the rods in such space is a coil spring, 39, which yields when force is applied lto a pair of adjacent partitions and which when Such force is removed returns the partitions to their normal position. The spreading apart of adjacent partitions may conveniently be accomplished by a wedge device thrust between adjacent partitions on opposite Sides, such device as shown in the drawings comprising wedges, 40, on the upper ends of two similar levers, 41, situated on opposite sides of the car and having each 'a pivot, 42. Each lever, 41, at its lower end has an iuwardly projecting arm, 43, with a roller, 44, in the path of a cam slot, 45, at the lower end of the lifter bar or frame, 15, the sides of the cam slot being shaped so that when the lifter ascends the wedges will be forced between a pair 'of partitions, before the gripper lifts high enough to pass over the lower edge of the record disk, and when the lifter descends and after the gripper passes from between thefpartitions said levers will be swung to withdraw the Wedges from between adjacent partitions. The wedges, 40,

f movement.

It will be evident that if the car were provided with fixed partitions, adjacent ones of which being spaced apart to allow the passage between them of the gripper, the car would have to be of great length, its length being several feet should the carhave a capacity of fifty records and as the car must travel a distance substantially equal to its length the frame of the machine would have to be substantially double the length of the car, and it would therefore be so long as to be impracticable. By my construction of movable p'artitions'which allows the spacing between adjacent partitions to be prac:

tically that of the thickness of 4the disk` record and making the partitions quite thin. I am able to reduce the length of the car and the length ofthe machine to bring the construction within commercially pr cticable limits. To avoid thenecessity of mo ing all theV partitions and the disks between them when the space between any pair of partitions is to be widen-ed, the partitions may be arranged in groups, two for example as shown in the fdrawings, this being accomplished by a stationary vertical partition, 46, at'midlength of the car between which on opposite sides andthe adjacent movable partitions are placed coil springs, 47.

The longitudinal travel of the car may conveniently be accomplished by a screw, 48, (see Fig. 1) extending beneath the car and engaging a nut, 49, that may conveniently be attached to the stationary partition,

,46, the screw being rotated by an electric motor, 50, the armature shaft of -which has a worm, 51, meshing with a worm wheel, 52, loosely mounted on the screw shaft but adapted to be clutched thereto by a clutch 53, on said shaft when in the operation of the machine, the car is to be moved. The motor, 50, is of a reversible type and when .the car reaches its limit of travel in either l direction it operates a switch, 54` in the motor circuit which reverses the direction of revolution of the motor. Y Such reversal may be accomplished readily by the mechanism 'shown in the drawing which comprises a longitudinally slidablerod, 55, (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which is supported by guide arms,

56, below the car and which extends beyond the car at each end and has near each end a stud or pin, 57, which when the carlnearly reaches its limit of movement is engaged by the end of the car and is 'shifted in the di'- rection of-movement of the car. At one end said bar,.55, is pivoted the movable bladeor lever of switch` 54, which when movedin f one direction by the travel of the c ar closes the circuit lthrough one set of cntacts, 58,

and when moved' in the opposite direction by. the travel of the car closes the circuit throughout another set of contacts, 58. The clutch, 53, has a construction that will reL vvolve the screw, 48, in either direction,

Said clutch (see Figs. 26 to 28) comprises a clutch slide, 59, mounted to slide parallel with the screw axis in an enlarge1nen't,'60, of the screw alongside of the worm wheel, 52, and inthe side of the latter is a hole, 61, into which the slide is urged -by a coil spring, 62. Projecting radially outwardl fromthe clutch slide is a pin, 63, which by the revolution'of the shaft engages one side or the other of a' double wedge or cam, 64, on a lever, 65, when said lever is moved to place the ywedge in the path of' the pin...63. N ormallythe lever, 65, is in a position which removes the wedge or cam, 64, from the path of the clutch pin, 63, and itv is moved into such path by an electro-magnet, 66, in a circuit which includes a normally. open switch that is closed automatically by the travel.

of the car when t-he car has moved to a point which presents a selected record above the lifter. There is such a switch for each disk record in the car and it includes a pair of spaced blades, 67 and 68, s tationarily mounted and a stud or pin, 69, mounted on and carried bythe car so that when by the travel of the car a particular stud enters y groups one on either side of the car, and

there is a series of studs on each side of the car.

Should .a lead wire be. provided for each record,`fit will be seen that a great number of Wires would be required,.as many as ftyone in an apparatus having fifty record stalls. To diminishgreatly the number of wires I .arrange `the pairs of switch blades, 67, and 65, into groups, those of the same group being connected in parallel and thus having a common lead wire. Thus with fifty stalls it will be convenient to arrange the pairs of switch blades, 67, and 68, in groups often. This group-arrangement may be carried out as .shown in Figs. 14 and 15 of the drawings by mounting the pair of blades, 67, and 68, properly insulated from each other by libre washers, '70Min a vertical series upon a pair of verticalpost-like supports, 72, said supports being insulated from the blades bv a fiber tube, or sleeve, 73. Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, it will be seen that the circuit for each group of switch blades 67 includesl a manual switch, vsuch as fone 0f the push.

. pin type, which controls the supply .of theI current to the circuit including the group and in addition to that switch, there is a switch for each set of lower blades, 68, which must manually be operated to supply current to a particular set of blades of each group so that. in the operation of the ap- ,.paratus, the proper group switch and the proper individual switchof that group Vmust be operated to supply current only to that pair of blades which is related to the record to be taken from the magazine. The lower blade, -68, of each switch is connected by a brass yconducting tube, 75, with the corresponding lower blade of each group so that 'f the push-button designated as Q, for inlar push buttons one series for the group,"

designated A to E and the other series for the group ld esignated Q to Z. Each 'push button, 76, (seeFgs. 24 and 25) `is .vertically slidable in guides in a frame, 78, each having 'a diametrically extending pin, 79, against which one end of a coil spring, 80, bears to lift the push button, and which pin also serves when the push button is depressed to enter between insulated switch plates, 81,

.. and thereby close the circuit of which such 'switch plates form a part. The pin, 79, also forms an upstop to limit the upward movement of the push-button by its spring. When depressed t-o circuit closingposition the push-button is secured by a pivoted latch, 82, weighted to fall in a notch, 83, in the side of the usb-button. The latch, 82, (see Figs. 24 an 25) is automatically released at an appropriate time in the operation of the machine by a trip finger, 84, which is moved into contact with the latch -by lthe action of an electromagnet, 85, in a circuit that is momentarily closed by a contact pin, 87, on a ca'm having a switch, 86, mounted on the motor driven shaft, 25, of the lifter lmechanism, (see Figs. 1, 2 and 15) and when the latch, 82, is released the push-button moves upward and breaks the circuit from movement of the push-button by its spring.

It is important that only one push-button or key of a series be depressed at a time. I, therefore, provide a key arrester which permits ,but one key at a time to be depressed and eiect-s the lockingof all the other keys against being depressed, and as a further precaution against careless or improper manipulation of the keys, when a key is depressed it is held by its latch with its upper end about flush with the top of the frame plate through which it passes so that no portion projects that would allow manipulation by the finger. The key arrester comprises aseries of movable blocks, preferably in the form of balls, 88, of the same number as the keys and mounted in a race, 89, below the keys in which the balls are yieldably moved in one direction by a coil spring, 90,` at one end of the race in such position that when all the keys are lifted there is a ball directly below each key. The end of the key towards the ball is beveled from one side to the other so that the ointed end ofthe key is bound to strike tlIiJe surface of the ball toone side of a verticalplane through the ball center and thus certainty of action is assured.

Besides the two series of push-buttonsthere may be '(see Fig. 15') an additional push-button or key, 91, of similar construction for controlling the current to the keyboard and the machine.

When the lifterI descends and reaches the l bottom of its stroke, by a suitable mechanism which includes-a switch lever, 92, (see Fig. 15) that inV alternation engages contacts; 93, and, 94; the circuit through the lifter -rnotor is broken thus stopping furtherA descent of the lifter and the circuit through the car movin motor, 50, is closed and placing such circ it inicondition to again start the car propelling motor, 50, but such motor4v is not put in operation because at the time the circuit is thus closed at the switch contact, 94, the circuit through lthe switch, 86, is momentarily .closed to ener ize the magnet, 85, to release all depressedeys and thus open the circuit that was closed through such depressed keys. The lswitch lever, 92, is acted upon by a spring, 95, that'tends to move it to close the circuit through contact,

93, (see Figs. 1 and 2) and break it through contact, 94, and said lever, 92, is latched in the position to open the circuit at the contact, 93, and `close it at the contact, 94, by a pivoted latch, 96, which is restrained in latching position by astrip -dog or. trigger, 97, which is tripped to release the latch, 9 6, by an electromagnet, 98, in the same clrcuit with the clutch rod operating magnet, 66. so that simultaneously both magnets will be energized with the result that the' car moving motor will be' stopped andthe llfter motor started. The movement of the switch lever, 9.2, vto cut; out the lifter motor and to cut in the car movingl motor is accomplished by a cam, 99, on t eA lifter motor driven shaft 25. f

The yautomatic ,raising and lowering of the tone arm to place the reproducer stylus into and out of working position on the reciis ber of levers, pivoted upon a common stud,

100, secured suitably to the frame, 10./Movei ment of one lever, 101,` is transmitted vso through a rod, 102, to the tone-arm for lifting the latter; movement of :mother lever, 103, is transmitted through connections that include a rod 104, bell crank lever, 105, and link, 106, connected With'a radial finger, 107 on the tone-arm to swing the tone-arm to starting position; and movement of the third lever, 108, is transmitted bv a rod, 109, (see Fig. 6) to a switch lever, 110, which alternately engages a contact, 111, in the circuit to the lifter motor, 28, andactuates devices that control the phonograph motor circuit, these two circuits being alternatively opened and closed. The switch lever, 110, is acted upon by a spring, 112, that tends to close the circuit at contact, 111, to cut in the lifter motor and the lever is held in position to open the circuit by a latch, 113, (see Figs. 5 and 6) that engages a projection 114, onv the side of the phonograph. The latch, 113, is automatically released when the record finishes playing by being struck by a lever, 115, pivoted to the top of the phonograph beneath the turntable. The lever, 115, has an arm, 116, beneath the phonograph top which has a Contact pin, 117, that is movable into and out of contact with .switch blades, 118, in the phonograph motor circuit, and thus by the movement of the lever, 115, the

'phonograph motor is cut into and out of circuit. A coil spring, 119, attached to the lever arm, 116, tends to swing the lever in the direction to cause it to strike the latch, 113, and to open the circuit at the contacts, 111, and the lever is held against such tendency and in circuit closing position and by a latch, 120, which is automatically released as hereinafter explained when the end of the record groove is reached. It is desirable to have the phonograph turntable speed up before the tone arm is lowered to place the needle in contact with the record. This is accomplished (see Fig. 6) by having the rod, 109, which moves switch lever, 110, act upon a lever, 121, pivoted to the phonograph side, with one extremity in position to engage the lever, 115, to swing the lever, 121, to move the lever, 115, into circuit closing position, before rod, 109, acts to swing switch lever, 110 to open the circuit at contact 111, in the lifter motor circuit. There is a shoulder in the form of a nut, 122, on the rod,- 109, which acts on lever, 121, before a shoulder in the form of the nut, 123, on

rod, 109, acts on the lever 110. A coil spring 124`moves lever, 121, against the push rod,

As has been stated when the needle reaches the end of the record groove in playing, the latch, '120, is moved to release the arm, 116, which. carries the contact pin, 117. On the underside of the tone arm is a projection, 125, that engages a lever, 126, pivoted to one end of a lever, 127, pivoted t0 the phonograph top beneath the'turntable and which by an arrangement 128, of levers and links is connected with the pivot, 129, to which the latch, 120, is connected.

-The time of engagement of the lever, 126, by the tone arm projection is determined A'automatically according to the length of the one end is engaged bythe finger, 130, of a lever, 131, pivoted tothe side of the phonograph, one end of which lever is adjacent the path of a series of pins, 132, on the'top of the car partitions, and When engaged by such a pin the lever, 131, is rocked and thereby the lever, 127, is moved to place the free arm of the lever, 126, (see Fig. 5) nearer to or further from the tone arm projection, 125. There is a pin foreach -record in the car and the Pins project a distance related to the terminal point of the record groove of the record, and the position to which the lever, 126, is shifted by the movement of lever, 127, depends iipon the amount of projection of the pin vabove the car. The pins,-132, arey readily attached to and removed from the car partitions by providing the latter With holes into which the pins are inserted, and all the holes are of the same depth so that pins of different length will project different distances above the car. The pins are of assorted lengths which respectively, are equal to the distance radially between the outer turn of the record grooves and the innermost turn, and accordingly a pin having such length is placed in the hole in the car at the stall having the record which suits the length of pin selected..` Thus the free arm of the lever, 126, by the action of the pin appropriate to the record being played will be placed in a position relative to the tone arm projection, that when the end of the record has been reached such projection, 125,. will strike the lever, 126, and rock the same and thereby release the latch, 120, -tov open the phonograph motor circuit. If desired the pins maybe in the form of screws, as shown in Fig. 7, Where a screw, 132, lengages a threaded hole Ain the partition, 35, and being a screw it mav be adjusted to place its top at the proper level to actuate the lever, 131.

The lever, 131, (see Fig-7) is connected .by a rod and spring connection, 133, with a lever, 134, Whose free end is in position to 'be engaged by a pin or projection, 135, (see 1 and 2),'on the lifter-when the latter :sol

its

is inrecord lifting position, and thereby the end of the lever, 131,v is placed and yieldingly held by the spring connection, 133, in position for engagement by a pin, 132, at other times the lever, 131, being held so that its end will not be struck by the pins and a scraping-action of the pins on the lever will be avoided.

The circuits to some extent are shown in Figs. 1 and 2,l but a betteridea thereof may be obtained from Fig. 15 whichis a diagram thereof.

Referring to that embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 16 to 25 it will be found to have features of construction that render it preferable to the previously described embodiment of my invention in such matters as simplication ofstructure and compactness and freedom from noise in operation. A skeleton frame-work, 210, is employed with parts made of angle iron within the upper part of which-is a horizontally traveling carriage, 211, with wheels or rollers, 212, on its under side that run on horizontal tracks, 213, extending lengthwise of the frame work and said carriage is the traveling magazine or holder for the desired number of disk records. The disks are held separated from one another and in a vertical position on the car (see Fig. 17), each disk at opposite sides resting upon shoulders 214 separated by a space, 215, to expose the lower portion of a disk for engagement by the lifter mechanism, and to space adjacent disks apart what I shall term sectional partitions, 216, of thin wood are used, these partitions at opposite sides of the car extending ,no further inward than the shoulders, 214, so that in the pathlof vertical movement of the disk lifter there is no obstacle and ample space is provided between adjacent disks to accommodate the lifter without undue 4lengthening of the car which would be necessary should the partitions extend completely across from side to side of the car between adjacent disks, as in the case ofthe car shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and I avoid the necessity of the spreading arrangement shown in such figures. c

The lifter (see Figs. 17 and 19) comprises a pair of opposing similar spring plates, 217, normally spaced apart a suiicient distance to receive a disk between them to hold the same with sufficient friction which is afforded by a covering, 218, of felt, or the like, on

` the disk-engaging side, these gripping plates being attached near 'their lower ends to a rigidsupporting bar, 219, which is pivoted by horizontal pins, 220, with a vertically movable carrier, 221, which slidably fits on its outer sides between frame supported` guides, 222. Guide lrods,'223, -pass through guide holes in said carrier and are fixed at their lower ends to the lbottom of the framework, 210. The upper parts of said guide rods are wedgeshaped and engage cam surswlng down to a horizontal position to place the disk carried thereby upon the turntable of the phonograph, what is thenthe upper gripper plate, 217, being engaged'by the tops of twostationary posts, 229, and such gripper plate therebyl lifted to free the record ymg inposition upon the turn-table and what is then the lower gripper plate, 217, carried sufliciently below the record to leave the record clear, as shown in Fig. 20. When the gripper is swung downward, as has just been explained, it moves against a spring, 225, which normally holds the gripper in its vertical position against a .stop pin, 22l. shown in Fig. 19 screwed to the lifter, 221.

Referring particularly to Fig. 20, the hook, 231, has a light spring, 231, connected to it which tends to pull the hook towards thegripper. In the path of such movement `of the hook, 231," by the spring, 231, is a stop, 231, on a lever, 231C, pivoted to one of the upper guides, 221. The lever, 231C, is yieldingly pulled by a spring, 231", to place the hook stop, 2311, in' hook arresting position except when the hook, 231, is to engage the pin, 224, on the gripper carrying bar, 219, and at that time the lever, 231, is moved in opposition to the pull of the spring, 231, by the engagement of the upper end of the lever, 231, by the upper end of theA lifter, the lever, 231% thereby being moved to the position shown in Fig. 20, which removing the stop, 2311, from the hook, 231, permits the spring-231, which acts upon the hook, to move the hook into engagement with the pin, 224, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 19. In

Fig. 20, the parts are shown `in the position after the hoolr, 231, has .engaged the pin," 234, andvby the ascent of the gripper after suc-h engagement, the gripper is swung down to the position shown in Fig. 20, from the position shown in Fig. 19. The swing of the lever 231, under the pull of its spring, 231, from the position shown inl Fig.y 20, to place the stop, 2311), in position to hold the hook, ,231, against the pull of the spring, 231, is limited by contact with thearm, 231, which projects from one of the guides,- 221, and to the upper end of which is connected one end of spring, 231. l

The gripper carrier at or near its upperI end is xed to a vertical screw, 227, (see Fig. 17 which extends downward and passes through a nut, 228, mounted to revolve in bearings supportedby the frame which nut on its periphery has a worm wheel, 232, which is. engaged by a screw orworm, 233, connected to or forming a part of the armature shaft of an electric motor, 234,-(see Fig. 16) which is reversible so that it may revolve the nut in either direction to raise or lower the screw, 227. The screw, 227, is made flexible transversely, as by being made of sections of suitable length that are hinged together by a joint, 235, such as that best shown in Fig. 22, so that when the lifter is in its lowermost position a considerable portion of the length of the screw will lie horizontally, as shown in Fig. 16, and thus make unnecessary the eXtreme height of the apparatus which would bey caused if a rigid screw of the necessary length should be employed. The lower flexible portion of the screw, 227 is engaged by a guide, 236, at thebottom of the machine which causes the proper flexing of the screw as the latter descends. l

As in the other embodiment of my invention illustrated the longitudinal travel of the car is produced by ascrew, 248, which engages a nut, 249, fixed to the car, the screw being rotated by an electric motor, 250, the armature shaft of which has a worm, 251, meshing with a worm wheel, 252, loosely mounted on the screw shaft but adapted to be clutched thereto by the clutch, such as is best shown in Figs. 12 and 13. rlhe clutch shown in'Figs. 12 and 13 s'substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 26 to 28, but it is operated by a solenoid, 260. rl`he car motor, 250, is of the reversible type, and is in a circuit that includes an automatic lswitch similar to that of the apparatus illustrated prises a lever, 255, shift-able by pins, 257, on

the car, 211, to move it alternately into and out of engagement withy opposite pairs of switch blades, 254.

The running of the car motor, 250, is under the control of switches that as in the case of the other form of my invention shown and described hereinbefore are controlled by studs, 269, mounted on the car but which in the case of the apparatus shown in Figs. 16 et seq. are all mounted on a single-bar, 270,` at one side of the car. The circuit-arrangement which is illustrated in Fig. 23 for the control of the car motor is the same as in the other embodiment of my invention described hereinbefore and the' corresponding partsin Fig. 23 are designated with the same reference numerals with the prefix of the numeral 277.

For controlling the movement of the record-engaging needle up and down and the return of the tone arm to supporting position after a record has been played I employ two cams driven by an electric motor in an automatically controlled circuit. These cams are mounted one above the other on a Vertical shaft, 271, supported on the phono graph housing, 272, the upper cam, 273, coacting with a finger, 274, attached to a portion, 275, of the tone arm hinged to swing vertically and the cam, 276, for swinging the tone arm sidewise acting upon-a finger, 278, fastened to such tone arm. Upon the shaft, 271, is a worm wheel, 279, engaged by a worm, 280, on the armature shaft of the electric motor, 281, which is in a circuit(sce Fig. 23)that includes a switch, 282, that is automatically actuated to out the motor, 281,. into and out of circuit at the appointed times, as inthe appara-tus of Figs. 1 to 15.

The circuit to the lifter-motor includes a set of reversing-switches, 284, as ydoes the car-motor circuit, which are operated by means of the lifter, 221, (see Fig. 17) striking the horizontal arms of a rod, 301, at both the top and bottom of its stroke. The rod contains a properly insulated conductor the blades, 284, for reversing the lifter motor. T he lifter-motor then. thru its worm, 233, and worm-wheel, 232revolves the nut on the folding-screw, 227, causing the lifter to ascend. The spring-held jaws as they leave the stationary pointed rods, 223, engage the record and proceedto carry it to the top of the machine. where the jaws are engaged by the stationary-hook, 231. and caused to place the record on the spindle of the turntable.

As the lifter, 221,. reaches the top of its stroke, in addition to operating the reversing switch to start the lifter downward, a bevelled end dog, 302, (see Figs. 17 and 21) 105 pivoted in a slot in the lifter, engages the end of a horizontally pivoted lever, 303, on top of the phonograph', forces it from the Y switch, 283, (see Fig. 18) in circuit with the lifter motor, into the switch, 304, in circuit -with `the turntable and cam-motor, 281, breaking the circuit to the lifter-motor and closing the circuit to the turntable and cammotors at the same time causing the opposite arm of the lever, 303, to be placed in the V path offa vertical pin, 305, in the topv face of the tone arm cam, 273, said pin being to reverse the action of the bevelled-end lever, 302, at the proper time.

The various cams, 273, 276, etc., (see Fig. 16) are now revolving on the vertical stud or shaft, 271, by means of the electric motor, 281, thru its worm, 280, and. worm-wheel, 279. lThe cam, 276, during a half revolution causes the tone-arm to swing so that the needle is a short distance inside the outer periphery of the record and the cam 271, is so timed as to cause a gentle lowering of the tone-arm with its needle on to the face of the record during half of its plished by a system of pegs, 316, placed in vertical holes along the front-side of thel car at its top. The holes are.v all `of one depth, and the pegs vary according to the.

distance the inner music groove is from the outerfedge of the record. The feeler-levers, 30,6, and, 307, are pivoted on the side of the phonograph housing, 272, andy are connected to the, horizontal positioning lever, 308, pivoted on top of the phonograph housing, 272, on-which is pivoted a trip-lever, 309, (see Fig. 18) connected tothe switch-lever, 310, by 'a link, 311. The horizontal-feeler operating lever 312, pivoted on top of the phonograph housing has one arm in contact vwith and is operated by the cam, 313, and is connected tothe positioning lever, 308, by a-coil pulling spring, 314, and thefeelerlever, 307, is caused to hold the lever, 312,

againstthe cam, 313, by means of another coil spring, 315, (see Fig. 16) bn the front of the phonograph housing; this spring, 315, being weak enough to cause spring), 314, not to expand until the feeler lever, 300, is in contact with the timing peg, 316, in the car.

All of the aforesaid motions from the various cams having been accomplished by half revolution of the vertical cam-shaft, 271, the -switch lever, 310, is. moved by" its cam, 317, into circuit breaking position so as' to4 cause the cam-motor` 281, to stop until the tone-arm (by the. music grooves) .is carrie'd toward the 'center of thfe record until the extension arm, 318, which has a vertical projection-below it strikes the trip lever, 309, closing the circuit to the cam motor. 281. raisingu the-'tone-arm' and swinging it out to its normal position.- The swivel joint that connects the link, 311, (see Fig. 1 8) to the trip lever, 309, is locatedexactly above the pivot of the positioning-lever, 308, so that in placing the positioning lever to suit the length of music the .relative position of.

the switch lever, 310, is not changed.,

,The vertical cam shaft, 271, is now making the second half of its -revolution, and just as it finishes, the'vertical pin, 305, projecting above the cam, 273, strikes 'the incline on one'end of the horizontal lever, 303, moving th opposite arm of the said lever y out of the urn-table motor and cam motor switch blades, y304, breaking said circuit, and into the lifter-motor-switch, 283, closing that circuit, andcausing the lifter lto descend after' the jaws or grippers, 217, have closed on the record and tipped to its vertical position.

When the record is within a few inches `.of its normal position in the car, 211, the

wedge-shaped surfaces, 319, on each jaw, 217, (see Figs. 17 and 21) strike the pointed rods, 223, forcing the jaws apart and allowing the record to be left free on its bearing surfaces in the car. The lifter ,with its gripper continues to 'descend until `it is belowfthe records in the car, at which time'the adjustable screw, 320, (see Fig. 17) in the bottom of the lifter strikes \one arm of the throw-out-lever, 321, pivoted on the bracket ,322, screwed to the floor of the machine. On the opposite arm of the throw-out-lever, 321, is pivoted a'pawl, 323, of non-conducting material such as fibre, the underside of which rests on a horizontal pin, 324, projecting from the throwout-Jever, 321, said pawl as it swings upward, being held firmly to the throwout-lever, 321, causes the switchlever, 292, to swing from'contact with the switch blades, 293, breaking the circuitv to the lifter motor, 234, and to swing in contact with the switch blades, 294, closing the circuit to the car-motor, 250. The opposite leg of the lifter, 221, at the Sametime strikes the lower arm of the rod, 301, and moves the switch contacts in position to cause a reversing of the lifter-motor, 234, So that it is ready to aseend. However, (see Fig. 17) as the pawl, 323, swings upward to cause the transferring ofthe current from the lifterthrowout-switch, 326, forcing'thesame in contact with its upper blade, closing the circuit -to the magnet, 285, in the keyboard,

which when energized causes the release of all the depressed keys, and therefore breaks the entire circuit to the machine.

It must be remembered that the reversing switches, 284, of the lifter-motor have been placed in position to cause the ascension of the lifter, 221, when the current is again turned on; the switch-lever, 292, has been placed in position to cause the current to pass thru the car motor, 250, and the pawl, 323, after actuating the switch lever, 292 and closing the blades, 325, and, 326, on account ofthe arc in which it swings, snaps by both the blades, 325, and the switch-lever 292, leaving the switch-lever free to be acted upon by the magnet, 298, and leaves the flexible blade, 325, free to return by its own spring to circuit-breaking position, so that all is ih readiness for the next selected record. The pawl, 323, pivoted on the throwout-lever, 321, is necessary, so that when the lifter, 221, again ascends, the pawl will not act as the throwout lever, 321, swings downward to its normal position against the stop, 328.

, The key operated mechanism which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 24 and 25 is the same for both embodiments of my inlength of wire running from the key-board to the apparatus,I mount the key-board casing, 285, upon a vertical round standard or shaft, 286, which is journaled at its lower end in a Hoor base, 287, so that it may be revolved to form a windlass for winding the flexible wire, 288, upon or ofi' the same according to the distance the key-board is placed from the instrument.

Certain features of the embodiment of my invention illustrated herein, appear in my application No. 525,669 iled December 29, 1921, some of which are described in detail herein and other features are disclosed in suchapplication which are not described herein and which relate to automatic devices for controlling the action of the phonograph, and no claim is made herein to matter common to the two applications which is properly in said other applications.

In regard to what is shown in Figs. 1 to 16 and 24 and 25 this application is a continuation of my application No. 593,782 filed October 11, 1922.

What I claim is:

1. A sound reproducing machine of the kind described comprising phonograph player mechanism,- ayfmagazine for a collection of player devices movable between certain extreme limits, automatic means for moving said magazine, means to transfer selected player devices between the maga'- zine and the player mechanism, and means manually operable at will comprising control devices related, respectively, to denite points within such limits of movement of the magazine for causing the stoppage of the magazine at selectedpoints.

- 2. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a phonograph player mechanism that includes a turntable, a reciprocating car for a collection of player devices, a device to transfer selected player devices between the car and player mechanism, to which the selected player device is presented by the reciprocating car, .and automatic means for causing reciprocation of the car l and the transfer device.

3. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a phonograph player mechanism that includes a turntable, a reciprocating car for a collection of player devices, a device to transfer selected player devices between the car and player mechanism, to which the selected player device is presented by the reciprocating car, motor means operatively connected with the carv and the transfer device and hand-actuated means to set the motor means in operation.

4. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a phonograph player mechanism that includes a turntable, a reciprocating car for a collection of device to transfer selected p ayer devices between the car and player mechanism, to

layer devices, a

which the selected player Idevice is presented .by the reciprocating car, motor means operatively connected Awith the car and the transfer device, hand-actuated means to set the motor means in operation, and automatic means to stop the operation of the motor means.

5. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a phonograph player mechansm that includes a turntable, a reciprocating car for a collection` of player devices, a device .to transfer selected playeridevices between the car and player mechanism, to which the selected player device is presented by the reciprocating car, motor means operatively connected with the car and the transfer device, hand-actuated means to set the motor means in operation, and automatic means to stop the operation of the motor means comprising separate clutches for the car and the transfer device.

6. In a sound reproducing machine of the kind described, the combination of phonoraph player mechanism, a reciprocating car or a collection of player devices, means to transfer selected devices one at a time between the car and the player mechanism, car reciprocating means, and means under the control of the car to stop the travel thereof with reference to said transfer device.

7. In a sound/reproducing machine of the kind described, the combination of a phonograph player mechanism, a reciprocating car for a collection of player devices, car reciprocating means, .electric means, including a car-actuated switch, for controlling the movement of said car, and means to transfer selected devices, one at a time, between the magazine and the player mechanism.

8. In a sound reproducing machine of the kind described, the combination of a phonograph player mechanism, a reciprocatlng car for a collection of player devices, car reciprocating means, electric means for controlling the movement of said car including a switch that comprises a plurality ofV stationary members and 'a plurality of members to co-act therewith, carried by the car, and means to transfer selected devices, one at a time, between the player mechanism and the car.

9. The combination in a sound reproducing machine of the kind described, of a phonograph player mechanism, a reci rocatmg car for a collection of player evices, movable to present the respective devices at a point for removal, automatic means to selectively stop said car at' such point, to present a desired player device thereat, and carreciprocating means.

10. The combination in a sound re roducing machine of the kind describe 0f la phonograph player mechanism, a reciprocating car for a collectlon ofy player devices, -movable to -present the respective devices at a point for removal, automatic means to selectively stop said car at such point, to present a desired player device thereat, said means being under the control of the car, and car-reciprocating means.

, 11. The combinationin a sound reproducing machine 'of the kind described, of a phonograph player mechanism, a reclprocating carfor a collection of player dev1ces,

\ movable to present the respective devices at anism including a turntable, a reciprocating a point for removal, automatic means to selectively st said car. at such polnt, to present a deslred player device therea't, said means includingv a car controlled electric switch and car reciprocating means.

12. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of phonograph player-mechanism including a turn table, a reciprocating car-,for a collection of records, means to transfer records between the car and the turn table, automatic means `to selectively present records to such transfer means, automatic means to control the operation of the turn table 4and car-reciprocating means.

13. In a machine of the kind described, the "combination of phonograph player meehcar for a collection of records, means to transfenrecords between the car and the turn table, automatic means to selectively present records to such transfer means, automatic means to' control the operation of the turntablel and the movement of the tone arm,-

and car-reciprocating means.

14. In a sound reproducing machine of the kind. described, the combination ofn pho nograph pla er mechanism, a reciprocating car for -a co lection of player devices, movable to and from a point for the delivery of selected yplayer dev1ces,j electric means for controlling the 'movement of said car to such point comprising a plurality of. switch devices, electrically connectedl in groups, switches for the respective groups and car/ reciprocating means.

15. In a sound reproducing machine of the kind described, thecombination of a phonograph player mechanism, a reciprocating car sfor a collection of player devices, movable to and from a point for the delivery of selected player devices,l electric means for controlling themovement-of said car to'such point comprising a plurality of automatic switches, electrically connected -in` groups, manual switches yfor the respective groups, and carQreciprocating means. h

- 16. In a sound reproducing machine of the kind described, the combination of plicng A graph 'playerA mechanism, a reciprocating car'ffor a collection of player devices, mov ableto and from a'point for the delivery of selected player devices,.electric means for feontrolling themovement of said'car to such polnt comprising arplnrahty: .of switch devices each, comprisin contacts, said switch evices being in grou s, a movable contact, electrical connections tween groupsl of switch devices, including switches controlling all the switch devices of a group, corresponding in number to the lnumber' of groups, a switch controlling the circuit of each member of `a group, and carreciprocating means.

17. In a machine lof thekind described, a

magazine for disc records comprising spaced partitions between pairs of which a record may be supported, means for moving a record from between the partitions and means for temporarily increasing the space between adjacent partitions.

18. In a machine of the kind described, a magabine for disc records com rising spaced partitions between pairs of wich a record may be supported, means for moving a record from between the partitions and means for temporarily increasin the space nbetween adjacent partitions, sai 'pairs of partit-ions being arranged `in independent groups.

19.` In a machine of the kind described, a magazinefor disc records com rising spaced partitions between pairs of w 1ch a record may be supported, means for moving a record from between partitions and means for temporarily increaslng the space between the ad]acent partitions, actuated by said record moving means.

20. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a magazine for a plurality of disc records, and record transporting means comprising a reciprocating gripper, two rack-bars, one of w ich is stationary, andthe other is movable, the movable onel being'connected with the gripper, a gear meshing with both -of said rack-bars, and means for bodily moving said gear over the stationary rack-bar.

21.v In a machine of the kind described, a car having supports for aplurality of disc recrds a motor, a driving connection between the motor and the car to reciprocate the car, and car controlled means for reversing the direction oftravel of the car by the motor.

22.- In a machine of the kind described, a

a pair of, stationary i car havi g' supports for a plurality of able to and from a point. for the delivery of a. selected layer device, and electricmeans for control ing the movement of said magazine com rising a group of side by side manual switc es having finger operated keysand a key arrester that permits movement'of onlyvfree to be' operated, and a key arrester that prevents movement of other keys during the operation of one key.

25. The combination in a sound7 re roducing machine of the kind described, o a pho-l nograph player mechanism, a holder for a collection of player devices, means to control the transfer of player devices to said player mechanism comprising a plurality of finger-operated keys, anyone of which normally is free to be operated, a key arrester that prevents movement of other keys during the operation of one key, a latch device to hold an operated keylin the position to which it is moved, and automatic means to release ,said latch device. A

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature.

oBERLIN sMTH.

sol 

